About the Lilburn Residence Trust

The formation of the Trust

The Lilburn Residence Trust (LRT) was established at the end of 2004 to ensure that the former home of Douglas Lilburn continued to be an important part of the music community in New Zealand by acquiring and maintaining the house primarily as a residence for professional composers. Through the generosity of many individuals and groups together with a grant from New Zealand Lotteries Environment and Heritage Committee, the Trust was able to purchase the house in August 2005.

The work of the Lilburn Residence Trust

The Trust works for the benefit of the community to promote and encourage the best interests of New Zealand music by:

maintaining the former home of the Douglas Lilburn at 22 Ascot Terrace, Thorndon, Wellington, as a residence for composers

supporting the publishing, presentation and dissemination of the music of Douglas Lilburn and other New Zealand composers

enriching the cultural life of New Zealand by providing creative opportunities for New Zealand professional composers

promoting and supporting the composition, performance and study of music.

This work is achieved through fundraising, and projects and collaborations with other cultural organisations, particularly the New Zealand School of Music, Heritage New Zealand, the Lilburn Trust and SOUNZ. We are particularly grateful to receive regular funding from Wellington City Council.

Dame Gillian Whitehead, first composer to live at the Lilburn Residence notes:

What better memorial to Douglas could there be than that perfect residence being maintained in his honour, for the use of those composers who, in RAK Mason's words and Douglas’ music, 'stoutly bring ... up the rear'?